The potential use of the popular Bath and Bristol Railway Path for a light rail route is 'wrong', says a cycling charity.

Sustrans has written an open letter to the leaders of the four local councils and Metro Mayor Tim Bowles urging them to look at other option for a tram line.

It came after the Bristol Post reported that the new metro trains may run next to the cycle path to link the two cities together.

Several of the UK’s top transport experts have been in talks with the Metro Mayor, leader of B&NES council Tim Warren and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees about the ambitious £4.5billion project, the Post understands.

However, the local branch of Sustrans – which promotes cycling and walking – said there is not enough room on the path to run both a tram line and cycle route.

The letter says any attempts to combine the two might risk the safety of cyclists and pedestrians and impact on the natural wildlife corridor the route provides.

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“If the West of England is to meet the behaviour change targets set out in the Joint Transport Study, then it must tackle the problem of too many people driving in our region,” he said.

“Enabling business as usual to persist on our road network whilst displacing foot and bike traffic from a green corridor is not a solution.”

Bristol City Council has denied the Bristol to Bath track is being looked at, but a council source told the Post that the authority had met with several top rail executives to discuss the possibility.

South West Transport Network spokesman David Redgewell also said there are only two options available for an eastern metro route – run a tram on tracks next to the cycle path or spend millions building underground tube-style tunnels under the east of the city.

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“At this moment the likelihood is that it would be a mix of underground and over-ground utilising existing and new infrastructure.

“Ground conditions look good and there are some initial thoughts on routes already being considered but no specific line of enquiry into a Bristol to Bath cycle path route.

“Costing the work up and establishing a financing model will be the next stage.”

The letter from Sustrans

Almost 4,000 people are thought to use the Bristol to Bath cycle path each day since it opened in 1979 and it was previously considered by the two councils for a tram or bus line a decade ago before the idea was eventually scrapped.

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Plans for an underground metro train system for Bristol were revealed last summer, but doubts have been raised about the viability of the project.

The scheme, which has a current cost estimate of £4.5billion, will include three lines linking Cribbs Causeway, Bristol Airport and the east of the city through the city centre.

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